Adaptive device utilizing neuroplasticity for the rehabilitation of stroke victims

Abstract

An adaptive device utilizing neuroplasticity for a rehabilitation of stroke victims. The adaptive device includes a base platform, an elongated superstructure, a first axle, at least one interchangeable handle, and a torsional-resistance mechanism. The base platform and elongated superstructure suspend the first axle in an elevated position, wherein the interchangeable handle may freely rotate coaxial to the first axle. The torsional-resistance mechanism is operatively coupled to the first axle, providing a variable resistance to the rotation of the interchangeable handle. Thus, the interchangeable handle is configured to support a repetitive pronation-supination exercise to aid in rehabilitation and physical therapy.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An adaptive device utilizing neuroplasticity for a rehabilitation of stroke victims, the adaptive device comprising:
 a base platform; 
 an elongated superstructure; 
 a first axle; 
 at least one interchangeable handle; 
 a torsional-resistance mechanism; 
 the elongated superstructure being connected normal to the base platform; 
 the first axle being rotatably mounted through the elongated superstructure; 
 the first axle being positioned offset from the base platform; 
 the first axle being positioned perpendicular to the elongated superstructure; 
 the at least one interchangeable handle being terminally attached to the first axle; 
 the torsional-resistance mechanism being mounted onto the base platform; 
 the torsional-resistance mechanism being operatively coupled to the first axle, wherein the torsional-resistance mechanism is used to resist rotation of the first axle; 
 the torsional-resistance mechanism further comprising a power transmission, a magnetic rotor, a magnetic cantilever, and a gap-adjustment mechanism; 
 the power transmission comprising a transmission input and a transmission output; 
 the magnetic rotor being rotatably mounted onto the base platform, offset from the elongated superstructure; 
 the magnetic cantilever being mounted onto the base platform, peripheral to the magnetic rotor; 
 the transmission input being torsionally mounted to the first axle; 
 the transmission output being torsionally mounted to the magnetic rotor; 
 the magnetic cantilever being operatively coupled with the magnetic rotor by the gap-adjustment mechanism, wherein the gap-adjustment mechanism is used to proportionately adjust a magnetic force between the magnetic cantilever and the magnetic rotor in accordance with a gap distance between the magnetic cantilever and the magnetic rotor; 
 the gap-adjustment mechanism comprising an incremental tensioner, a control cable, and a spring; 
 the incremental tensioner being mounted onto the base platform; 
 the control cable being slidably mounted through the elongated superstructure; 
 the control cable being tethered between the incremental tensioner and the magnetic cantilever; 
 the spring being laterally positioned around the control cable; and 
 the spring being pressed in between the elongated superstructure and the magnetic cantilever. 
 
     
     
       2. The adaptive device as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising:
 the power transmission further comprising a serpentine belt; 
 the transmission input being a flywheel; 
 the transmission output being a second axle; 
 the flywheel being torsionally connected to the first axle; 
 the second axle being torsionally connected to the magnetic rotor; and 
 the serpentine belt being tensionably and frictionally engaged in between the flywheel and the second axle. 
 
     
     
       3. The adaptive device as claimed in  claim 2  further comprising:
 the power transmission further comprising a belt tensioner; 
 the belt tensioner being rotatably mounted onto the base platform; and 
 the serpentine belt being tensionably and frictionally engaged to the belt tensioner. 
 
     
     
       4. The adaptive device as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a microcontroller; 
 a rotary encoder; 
 the rotary encoder being operatively coupled to the first axle, wherein the rotary encoder is used to collect rotation data of the first axle; and 
 the rotary encoder being electronically connected to the microcontroller. 
 
     
     
       5. The adaptive device as claimed in  claim 4  further comprising:
 a display; 
 the display being mounted onto the base platform; and 
 the display being electronically connected to the microcontroller. 
 
     
     
       6. The adaptive device as claimed in  claim 4  further comprising:
 a wireless communication module; and 
 the wireless communication module being electronically connected to the microcontroller. 
 
     
     
       7. The adaptive device as claimed in  claim 4 
 wherein the incremental tensioner of the gap-adjustment mechanism being electronically connected to the microcontroller. 
 
     
     
       8. The adaptive device as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of footprint extenders; and 
 the plurality of footprint extenders being peripherally mounted to the base platform. 
 
     
     
       9. An adaptive device utilizing neuroplasticity for a rehabilitation of stroke victims, the adaptive device comprising:
 a base platform; 
 an elongated superstructure; 
 a first axle; 
 at least one interchangeable handle; 
 a torsional-resistance mechanism; 
 the torsional-resistance mechanism further comprising a power transmission, a magnetic rotor, a magnetic cantilever, and a gap-adjustment mechanism; 
 the power transmission comprising a transmission input and a transmission output; 
 the elongated superstructure being connected normal to the base platform; 
 the first axle being rotatably mounted through the elongated superstructure; 
 the first axle being positioned offset from the base platform; 
 the first axle being positioned perpendicular to the elongated superstructure; 
 the at least one interchangeable handle being terminally attached to the first axle; 
 the torsional-resistance mechanism being mounted onto the base platform; 
 the torsional-resistance mechanism being operatively coupled to the first axle, wherein the torsional-resistance mechanism is used to resist rotation of the first axle; 
 the magnetic rotor being rotatably mounted onto the base platform, offset from the elongated superstructure; 
 the magnetic cantilever being mounted onto the base platform, peripheral to the magnetic rotor; 
 the transmission input being torsionally mounted to the first axle; 
 the transmission output being torsionally mounted to the magnetic rotor; 
 the magnetic cantilever being operatively coupled with the magnetic rotor by the gap-adjustment mechanism, wherein the gap-adjustment mechanism is used to proportionately adjust a magnetic force between the magnetic cantilever and the magnetic rotor in accordance with a gap distance between the magnetic cantilever and the magnetic rotor; 
 the gap-adjustment mechanism comprising an incremental tensioner, a control cable, and a spring; 
 the incremental tensioner being mounted onto the base platform; 
 the control cable being slidably mounted through the elongated superstructure; 
 the control cable being tethered between the incremental tensioner and the magnetic cantilever; 
 the spring being laterally positioned around the control cable; and 
 the spring being pressed in between the elongated superstructure and the magnetic cantilever. 
 
     
     
       10. The adaptive device as claimed in  claim 9  further comprising:
 the power transmission further comprising a serpentine belt and a belt tensioner; 
 the transmission input being a flywheel; 
 the transmission output being a second axle; 
 the flywheel being torsionally connected to the first axle; 
 the second axle being torsionally connected to the magnetic rotor; 
 the serpentine belt being tensionably and frictionally engaged in between the flywheel and the second axle; 
 the belt tensioner being rotatably mounted onto the base platform; and 
 the serpentine belt being tensionably and frictionally engaged to the belt tensioner. 
 
     
     
       11. The adaptive device as claimed in  claim 9  further comprising:
 a microcontroller; 
 a rotary encoder; 
 a display; 
 a wireless communication module; 
 the rotary encoder being operatively coupled to the first axle, wherein the rotary encoder is used to collect rotation data of the first axle; 
 the rotary encoder being electronically connected to the microcontroller; 
 the display being mounted onto the base platform; 
 the display being electronically connected to the microcontroller; 
 the wireless communication module being electronically connected to the microcontroller; and 
 the incremental tensioner of the gap-adjustment mechanism being electronically connected to the microcontroller. 
 
     
     
       12. The adaptive device as claimed in  claim 9  further comprising:
 a plurality of footprint extenders; and 
 the plurality of footprint extenders being peripherally mounted to the base platform. 
 
     
     
       13. An adaptive device utilizing neuroplasticity for a rehabilitation of stroke victims, the adaptive device comprising:
 a base platform; 
 an elongated superstructure; 
 a first axle; 
 at least one interchangeable handle; 
 a torsional-resistance mechanism; 
 the torsional-resistance mechanism further comprising a power transmission, a magnetic rotor, a magnetic cantilever, and a gap-adjustment mechanism; 
 the power transmission comprising a transmission input, a transmission output, a serpentine belt, and a belt tensioner; 
 the elongated superstructure being connected normal to the base platform; 
 the first axle being rotatably mounted through the elongated superstructure; 
 the first axle being positioned offset from the base platform; 
 the first axle being positioned perpendicular to the elongated superstructure; 
 the at least one interchangeable handle being terminally attached to the first axle; 
 the torsional-resistance mechanism being mounted onto the base platform; 
 the torsional-resistance mechanism being operatively coupled to the first axle, wherein the torsional-resistance mechanism is used to resist rotation of the first axle; 
 the magnetic rotor being rotatably mounted onto the base platform, offset from the elongated superstructure; 
 the magnetic cantilever being mounted onto the base platform, peripheral to the magnetic rotor; 
 the transmission input being torsionally mounted to the first axle; 
 the transmission output being torsionally mounted to the magnetic rotor; 
 the magnetic cantilever being operatively coupled with the magnetic rotor by the gap-adjustment mechanism, wherein the gap-adjustment mechanism is used to proportionately adjust a magnetic force between the magnetic cantilever and the magnetic rotor in accordance with a gap distance between the magnetic cantilever and the magnetic rotor; 
 the transmission input being a flywheel; 
 the transmission output being a second axle; 
 the flywheel being torsionally connected to the first axle; 
 the second axle being torsionally connected to the magnetic rotor; 
 the serpentine belt being tensionably and frictionally engaged in between the flywheel and the second axle; 
 the belt tensioner being rotatably mounted onto the base platform; 
 the serpentine belt being tensionably and frictionally engaged to the belt tensioner; 
 the gap-adjustment mechanism comprising an incremental tensioner, a control cable, and a spring; 
 the incremental tensioner being mounted onto the base platform; 
 the control cable being slidably mounted through the elongated superstructure; 
 the control cable being tethered between the incremental tensioner and the magnetic cantilever; 
 the spring being laterally positioned around the control cable; and 
 the spring being pressed in between the elongated superstructure and the magnetic cantilever. 
 
     
     
       14. The adaptive device as claimed in  claim 13  further comprising:
 a microcontroller; 
 a rotary encoder; 
 a display; 
 a wireless communication module; 
 the rotary encoder being operatively coupled to the first axle, wherein the rotary encoder is used to collect rotation data of the first axle; 
 the rotary encoder being electronically connected to the microcontroller; 
 the display being mounted onto the base platform; 
 the display being electronically connected to the microcontroller; 
 the wireless communication module being electronically connected to the microcontroller; and 
 the incremental tensioner of the gap-adjustment mechanism being electronically connected to the microcontroller. 
 
     
     
       15. The adaptive device as claimed in  claim 13  further comprising:
 a plurality of footprint extenders; and 
 the plurality of footprint extenders being peripherally mounted to the base platform.